Device for separating strips and uses of such a device

ABSTRACT

A device is disclosed for isolating strips (S 1 -S 12 ) conveyed next one another in their lengthwise direction, particularly metal strips, having at least one separating unit (N) extending in an axial direction (X), in which each strip (S 1 -S 12 ) is assigned one guide (F 10 -F 25 ), which guides each of the strips (S 1 -S 12 ), inserted in it using positive fit, in a different plane (E 1,  E 2 ), running essentially parallel to the lengthwise axis (L) of the separating unit (N), than each of the guides (F 10 -F 25 ) positioned neighboring it. The isolating device disclosed is constructed simply and allows reliable, time-saving isolation of the strips. In addition, advantageous uses of such a device are indicated.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for isolating strips,particularly metal strips, conveyed next to one another in theirlengthwise direction. These types of devices are used in order toproduce a defined horizontal interval between the strips, with which thestrips may be fed to further processing. In this way, damage of thestrip edges is avoided, which otherwise could be caused by contactbetween the strips conveyed next one another.

[0002] The isolation has particularly significance in the production andprocessing of metal strips, which are obtained, for example, from a widemetal band by slitting using slitting shears and are subsequently coiledinto isolating coils in a coiling device. These types of strips made ofmetal have a high intrinsic stiffness transverse to the direction ofconveyance even if they have a slight thickness. On the one hand, thisintrinsic stiffness makes the production of an interval between theindividual strips transverse to the direction of conveyance moredifficult. On the other hand, due to the intrinsic stiffness of thestrips, even slight contacts between the strips may lead to significantdamage.

[0003] The separation of metal strips is made more difficult if theisolation of the strips is to occur a short distance after the slittingshears. In this case, which occurs frequently due to the overall spaceavailable, which is often restricted in practice, the strips which arestill connected to the uncut sheet endeavor, due to their intrinsicstiffness, to maintain their original direction of conveyance, so thatgreater forces have to be applied for the separation.

[0004] If, in contrast, the isolation is first performed at a largedistance from the slitting shears, the connection to the still uncutsheet does not have such a strong effect. Instead, the danger arisesthat the strips will run uncontrolled out of the intended direction ofconveyance.

[0005] In practice, separating devices whose guideways are delimited byseparation disks which are fixed in their position are used as a rule.The strips are typically laid by hand into these guideways.Alternatively, isolating the strips through a mechanically-generated,back and forth shaking movement of a separating shaft has also beenattempted.

[0006] Manual isolation, particularly in the separation of strips madeof metal, not only requires great bodily exertion, but also has thedanger of injuries. In mechanically-supported isolation, it has beenshown that the isolation result of the mechanical back-and-forthmovement of the strips is so unreliable that the position of the stripsmust be corrected by hand. The latter particularly applies for largeband thicknesses, in which the intrinsic stiffness of the metallicstrips is particularly noticeable.

[0007] A device for a separating the front ends of strips produced froma metal band by slitting is known from German Published Application 2138 088, in which the isolation of the strips is performed using anautomatically operating isolating unit. For this purpose, the isolatingunit is equipped with clamping devices which are displaceable on a jointaxis, to each of which one strip front end is assigned. After the stripfront ends are clamped in the clamping devices, the clamping devices aresimultaneously displaced on the axis, so that the strip front ends arespread apart from one another like a fan. The movement of the clampingdevices along the axis is coordinated in this case via threads havingdifferent pitch in such a way that all strip front ends reach theirseparated positions simultaneously.

[0008] The advantage of the known device described above is that itallows automated isolating of the strips within a short operatinginterval. However, it is disadvantageous that for this purpose asignificant constructive outlay is necessary, particularly for theclamping devices. In addition, as a rule the strip front ends may onlybe laid in the clamping devices when the device is at a standstill. Inaddition, the known device requires a significant amount of space, whichin many cases may only be made available with difficulty.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide an isolatingdevice of the type described above which is constructed simply andallows reliable, time-saving isolation of the strips. In addition,advantageous uses of such a device are to be indicated.

[0010] This object is achieved by a device for isolating strips,particularly metal strips, conveyed next one another in their lengthwisedirection, having at least one separating unit extending in an axialdirection, in which each strip is assigned one guide, each of whichguides one of the strips, which are positively inserted into them, in adifferent plane running essentially parallel to the lengthwise axis ofthe separating unit than each of the guides positioned neighboring it,the guides, when strips are inserted in them, in addition to having astarting position, in which the strips have a slight lateral interval,being adjustable into a separating position, in which there is a greaterlateral interval between the strips.

[0011] In a device implemented according to the present invention, it isno longer necessary to clamp the strips into the separating unit for theisolating procedure. Instead, the strips are positively guided inguides. Simultaneously, the guides are implemented in such a way thatstrips positioned neighboring one another each lie in different planes.In this way, lateral contact of the strips and the danger of damageaccompanying this is avoided from the outset. In addition, the guidesare adjustably implemented in such a way that the strips may be broughtfrom a starting position, in which they have a slight lateral intervalin relation to a plane running parallel to the lengthwise axis of theseparating device, into a separating position, in which this interval isincreased to the size necessary for further processing. At the sametime, the guides hold the respective strips lying in them so tightlyenclosed that they are reliably positively guided, at least on theiredge regions.

[0012] The positive guiding of each of the strips in a different planewhich is provided according to the present invention allows, at the sametime, the strips to be held loosely in the guides of the separating unitwithout the effect of clamping forces. In this way, the front ends ofthe strips may be pushed into the separating unit without the productioncycle having to be interrupted. Thus, during the processing of stripsmade of metal, bringing the slitting shears to a standstill forinserting and clamping the strip front ends in the separating device isno longer necessary.

[0013] A further essential advantage of the embodiment of a separatingdevice according to the present invention is that high lateral forcesmay be applied via the guides onto the strip front ends loosely insertedin them during the separating procedure performed by the adjustment ofthe guides. In this way, the present invention also allows reliableisolating of metal strips which have a greater thickness and highintrinsic stiffness.

[0014] In practice, the present invention may be implemented simply iftwo planes are provided, in each of which strips are guided, and one ofthe guides at a time guides the strip assigned to it in one plane, whilethe guide closest neighboring this guide in the axial direction of theseparating unit guides the strip assigned to it in the respective otherplane. In a device designed in this way, two different conveyor planesare selected, to which the strips, viewed transverse to their directionof conveyance, are each assigned in alternating sequence. This allowsreliable separation of the strips to be performed in a simpleconstruction of the device.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, theseparating unit may include two rotatably mounted shafts having theiraxes positioned in parallel, between which the strips are guided, theguides for the strips being implemented on the respective shafts andrunning around the circumference of the shafts. In this embodiment, thecircumferential surfaces of one shaft each form a cover of the open sideof the guides implemented on the respective other shafts. In this way, aguide gap is formed for each strip between the shafts, in which thestrips are reliably guided. The danger of the strips breaking out of theguides due to twisting or similar things is therefore excluded.

[0016] In this context, it is particularly advantageous if the guidesare implemented like sections of thread, each having a pitch, and theshafts are driven in opposite directions. In a device according to thepresent invention designed in this way, the strips may be moved intotheir isolating positions by rotation of the shafts and/or therespective guides assigned to them. It is particularly advantageous inthis regard if, starting from a first guide having the smallest pitch,the pitch of each following guide in the axial direction of the shaftsis greater than the pitch of the closest neighboring guide to it in thedirection of the first guide. This allows the strips to be brought,according to the pitch of the respective guide assigned to them, from astarting position to their final isolating position using one singlerotational movement of the shafts. In this case, because the pitches ofthe successive guides in the axial direction of the shafts each increasein relation to the one preceding, consideration is given to thecircumstance that the amount by which the strips are each displaced fromthe non-separated position transverse to their direction of conveyancemust also increase with increasing distance of the strips concerned fromthe strip displaced least, which is selected as a reference point, inorder to obtain a uniform interval of the strips upon termination of theseparation.

[0017] An advantageous variant of the present invention is characterizedin that the guides of the separating unit are implemented on isolatingsegments. In this embodiment, the strips are brought in guides, from thestarting position into the separated position by elements which arepositionable independently from one another. In this case, the guidespresent on the isolating segments are again implemented in such a waythat the strips positioned neighboring one another are each conveyedinto different planes.

[0018] An expedient alternative for using rotationally operated shaftsin this context is that the isolating segments are implemented likesliding blocks and are movably guided in the axial direction of theseparating unit. The particular advantage of the use of sliding blocksguided in this way is that relative movements between the strips and thecontact surface of the respective guide assigned to them during theseparating procedure may be largely avoided. Large adjustment paths maybe made possible with simultaneously simplified construction and a lowspace requirement of the drives required for the adjustment if theisolating elements are distributed onto different guideways.

[0019] In addition, it is expedient if the separating unit has a firstoperating position, in which the strips lie loosely in their guides, anda second operating position, in which the strips are clamped in theguides. This embodiment of the present invention allows the strip frontends to be pushed loosely into the separating device without loss oftime and subsequently to be clamped in the guides. This is advantageous,for example, if the separating device according to the present inventionmay travel from an initial position, in which the strip front ends arepushed in, into a transfer position, in which the strips are, forexample, transferred to a coiling device. The loose strip front ends,which are positively guided only during the pushing-in procedure, may bereliably fed to further processing in this way, it also being possibleto perform the separation during the transfer procedure.

[0020] The danger of damage to the strips, particularly to their edges,may be avoided if the free edges of the guides are phased, at least inthe region in which they come into contact with the strips. The phasingmay be performed, for example, in the form of rounding or flattening inthis case. If the guides are implemented as thread sections, it isfavorable if the angle of the phasing is adjusted to the respectivepitch of the thread section in such a way that an essentiallyexclusively linear contact between the strips and the phasing occurs. Bydimensioning the phasing angle in this way, damage to the strip edges orsurface by edges of the guides which cut into the strips may be reliablyavoided.

[0021] The present invention allows safe, reliable isolation of stripswith a low outlay for apparatus and little building material. At thesame time, a device according to the present invention is, due to thesimplicity of the construction of the separating unit, particularlysuitable for automatic adjustment to various operating conditions, suchas those which occur, for example, upon a change of the widths of thestrips to be processed.

[0022] A first advantageous use of a device according to the presentinvention is for such a device to be in the outlet of a device forslitting a band, particularly a metal band, into multiple stripsconveyed next one another in the lengthwise direction. In this case,depending on the construction conditions and the requirements whichresult from the type of further processing of the strips, the isolatingdevice may be positioned stationary. It may also be expedient, however,if the device for isolating the strips may travel from a transferposition, in which it accepts the strips to be isolated, into anisolating position, in which the isolating of the strips occurs.

[0023] Furthermore, a device according to the present invention may alsobe advantageously used for transporting strips, particularly metalstrips, using which the strips are transported from a device in whichthe strips are produced by slitting a band to a device in which furtherprocessing of the strips occurs.

[0024] In the following, the invention is described in more detailedwith reference to a drawing illustrating an exemplary embodiment.

[0025]FIG. 1 shows, in a frontal partial view, a pair of shafts used ina device for isolating metal strips in a first operating position;

[0026]FIG. 1a shows, in a frontal partial view, an enlarged detail A ofFIG. 1;

[0027]FIG. 2 shows, in a frontal partial view, the pair of shafts shownin FIG. 1 in a second operating position.

[0028] Separating unit N illustrated in the figures, which is made oftwo shafts 1, 2, is a part of a further device, not shown, forhorizontal isolating of strips S1-S12, which are produced by slitting asteel band, not shown, in slitting shears, also not shown.

[0029] The device for isolating strips S1-S12 is, for example,positioned in the outlet of the slitting shears.

[0030] Alternatively, it may also be positioned on a transfer device,not shown. Using such a device, the front ends of strips S1-S12 may betransferred into a coiling device, not shown, in which they are woundinto coils. The advantage of this design is that the time necessary forthe transfer may be used for separating strips S1-S12.

[0031] Each of shafts 1, 2 is equipped on one half, shown in FIGS. 1, 2,with isolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210, which are pushed ontorespective shaft 1 or 2 in succession in axial direction X and areconnected to appropriate shaft 1, 2 via suitable attachment elements,not shown, so they are removable and rotate with the shaft. The intervalin axial direction X between individual isolating segments V10-V110and/or V20-V210 is fixed in this case by spacers 3, 4. A correspondingnumber of isolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210, not shown, ispositioned in the same way on the other half of shafts 1, 2.

[0032] The advantage of equipping shafts 1, 2 using isolating elementsV10-V110 and/or V20-V210 in the way described, using spacers 3, 4, isthat isolating elements V10-V110 and/or V20-V210 of this type may beprecisely premanufactured as independent components at low cost andmanually or automatically attached to shafts 1, 2 according to thecurrent strip program. In this case, it is particularly advantageous ifisolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210 are removably connected toshaft 1, 2. This allows separating unit N to be adjusted to changedwidths of strips S1-S12 within a short time. The latter particularlyapplies because, due to the removable attachment, the interval ofisolating elements V10-V110 and/or V20-V210 may be adjusted easily. Ifthe respective distance between isolating elements V10-V110 and/orV20-V210 is fixed by spacers 3, 4, it is also ensured that, even in theevent of the occurrence of high lateral guide forces in the course ofthe separation, reliable; exactly positioned isolation of strips S1-S12is performed.

[0033] Each isolating segment V10-V110 and/or V20-V210 has a firstradial circumferential contact surface 5, which is delimited on one sideby a free radial circumferential edge 6 of respective isolating segmentV10-V110 and/or V20-V210. In this case, isolating segments V10-V110and/or V20-V210 are each positioned in pairs P10-P14 and/or P20-P24 insuch a way that free edges 6, which laterally delimit first contactsurfaces 5 of isolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210 assigned torespective pair P10-P14 and/or P20-P24, are assigned to one another.

[0034] On its other side, first contact surface 5 of isolating segmentsV10-V110 and/or V20-V210 is delimited by a lateral wall 7 of acircumferential collar 8. In this case, in each of pairs P10-P14 and/orP20-P24, lateral walls 7 of isolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210assigned to respective pair P10-P14 and/or P20-P24 lie opposite to oneanother and have a parallel course implemented like a screw thread,lateral walls 7 of isolating segments V20-V210 assigned to shaft 2 beingimplemented in the opposite direction to lateral walls 7 of isolatingsegments V10-V110 assigned to first shaft 1.

[0035] In this way, lateral walls 7 and first contact surfaces 5 ofisolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210, which are each assigned toone of pairs P10-P14 and/or P20-P24, each form a guide F10-F14 and/orF20-F25, each of which has its own pitch s10-s14 and/or s20-s25, whichdifferentiates it from each other pitch s10-s14 and/or s20-s25 ofrespective other guides F10-F14 and/or F20-F25.

[0036] In the region of collar 8, isolating segments V10-V110 and/orV20-V210 has a diameter D1, which is greater than diameter D2 ofisolating segments V10-V110 and/or V20-V210 in the region of firstcontact surface 5. The circumferential surface of collar 8 forms asecond radial circumferential contact surface 9, through whichrespective strip S1-S12 is held in guide F10-F14 and/or F20-F25implemented on respective opposing shaft 1 and/or 2.

[0037] In this way, strips S1-S12 are guided between shafts 1, 2 inalternating succession in conveyor gaps R10, R20 in two planes ofconveyance E1, E2, which run parallel to rotational axes W1, W2 ofshafts 1, 2 and lengthwise axis L of separating unit N, which also runsparallel to these rotational axes W1, W2. In this case, guides F10-F14of shaft 1 guide strips S1, S3, S5, S7, S9, S11 assigned to plane ofconveyance E1, while guides F20-F25 guide strips S2, S4, S6, S8, S10,S12, which are assigned to second plane of conveyance E2.

[0038] Free edge 10 between each lateral wall 7 and contact surfaces 9assigned to this wall 7 is provided with a phase in the form of aflattening (FIG. 1a). This prevents the free edge, which would otherwisebe sharp, from cutting into respective strips S1-S12 due to the lateralforces applied in the course of the separating procedure.

[0039] Pitches s10-s14 and/or s20-s25 of guides F10-F14 and/or F20-F25increase, starting from guide F10 and/or F20 positioned closest to shaftcenter 1 a of shafts 1, 2, in the direction of respective shaft end 1 b,2 b. Thus, for example, guide F11 has a smaller pitch s11 than guideF12, positioned closest neighboring to it in the direction of shaft end1 b. In the same way, pitch s21 of guide F21 is larger than pitch s20 ofguide F20, which is its closest neighbor in the direction of shaftcenter 1 a. Simultaneously, pitch s20 of guide F20 is smaller than pitchs10 of guide F10 of shaft 1, which is positioned nearer shaft end 1 b,which in turn is smaller than pitch s21 of next following guide F21 ofshaft 2 in the direction of shaft end 1 b, etc. The amount by whichpitches s10-s14 and/or s20-s25 of guides F10-F25 each increase inrelation to respective next smaller pitches s10-s14 and/or s20-s25 isuniform. In this case, the increase of the thread pitch of individualguides F10-F25 in relation to respective closest neighboring guideF10-F25 is selected in such a way that, starting from the initialposition, the desired interval between strips S1-S12 is achieved in theseparated position at maximum rotational setting of shafts 1, 2.

[0040] Shafts 1, 2 are rotatably mounted in opposite directions inbearings, not shown, for this purpose and may be transferred, using adrive, also not shown, from their first operating position, illustratedin FIG. 1, in which strips S1-S12 are not isolated, into the secondoperating position, shown in FIG. 2, in which strips S1-S12 are locatedin their separated position. In this case, the direction and speed ofrotation of shafts 1, 2 during the separating procedure is tailored tothe direction and speed of conveyance of strips S1-S12, so that therelative speeds arising are reduced to a minimum.

[0041] Using drives, also not shown, shafts 1, 2 may be moved away fromone another in the radial direction for insertion of the front ends ofstrips S1-S12. Their axial interval may also be changed in such a waythat strips S1-S12 are clamped in guide gaps R10, R20.

[0042] If shaft 1 is moved into an open position, not shown, the frontends of strips S1-S12 coming out of the slitting shears areautomatically directed onto contact surfaces 5, 9 assigned to guidesF10-F25 of second shaft 2, which is positioned below first shaft 1.Subsequently, shaft 1 is lowered so that the operating positionillustrated in FIG. 1 is reached. In this position, strips S1-S12 arepositioned in respective guides F10-F25 assigned to them.

[0043] Shafts 1, 2 are then rotated in opposite directions. Accompanyingthis rotation, respective strips S1-S12 are moved in the direction ofshaft ends 1 b, 2 b in correspondence with pitch s10-s14 and/or s20-s25of respective guide F10-F14 and/or F20-F25, starting from strip S1assigned to shaft center 1 a. At the end of the rotational movement,they are at uniform intervals in their separated positions (FIG. 2). Inthis case, the interval actually reached between strips S1-S12 in theseparating position is dependent on the size of the rotational anglecovered during the rotation of shafts 1, 2.

[0044] As an alternative to introducing the strip front ends when uppershaft 1 is raised, the front ends of strips S1-S12 may also beautomatically pushed into guide gaps R10, R20 between shafts 1, 2.

[0045] Of course, it is also not absolutely necessary to drive shafts 1,2 in opposite directions, as described in the example above. In anappropriate embodiment of guides F10-F25, shafts 1, 2 may also be drivenin the same direction.

[0046] Clamping the strip front ends in guide gaps R10, R20 during orafter the separating procedure may be expedient if separating unit Nsupplies the strip front ends to further processing after the insertionand separating.

List of Reference Numbers

[0047]1, 2 shafts

[0048]1 a shaft center

[0049]1 b, 2 b shaft ends

[0050]3, 4 spacer

[0051]5 contact surface

[0052]6 edge

[0053]7 wall

[0054]8 collar

[0055]9 contact surface

[0056] D1 diameter

[0057] D2 diameter

[0058] E1, E2 planes of conveyance

[0059] F10-F14, F20-F25 guide

[0060] L lengthwise axis of the separating unit

[0061] N separating unit

[0062] P10-P14, P20-P24 pairs

[0063] R10, R20 conveyor gaps

[0064] S1-S12 strips

[0065] s10-s14, s20-s25 pitches

[0066] V10-V110, V20-V210 isolating segments

[0067] W1, W2 rotational axes of shafts 1, 2

[0068] X axial direction

1. A device for isolating strips (S1-S12), particularly metal strips, conveyed next one another in their lengthwise direction, having at least one separating unit (N) extending in an axial direction (X), in which each strip (S1-S12) is assigned one guide (F10-F25), which, for the purpose of a positive fit, guides each of the strips (S1-S12) inserted in them in a different plane (E1, E2), running essentially parallel to the lengthwise axis (L) of the separating unit (N), than each of the guides (F10-F25) positioned neighboring them, wherein the guides (F10-F25), when strips (S1-S12) are inserted in them, are additionally adjustable from a starting position, in which the strips (S1-S12) have a slight lateral interval, into a separating position, in which a larger lateral interval exists between the strips (S1-S12).
 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that two planes (E1, E2) are provided, in each of which strips (S1-S12) are guided, and that each one of the guides (F10, F11, F12 . . . ) guides the strip (S1, S3, S5, . . . ) assigned to it in one plane (E1), while the respective guide (F20, F21, F22, . . . ) closest neighboring this guide (F10, F11, F12, . . . ) in the axial direction (X) of the separating unit (N) guides the strip assigned to it (S2, S4, S6) in the respective other plane (E2).
 3. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating unit (N) includes two rotatably mounted shafts (1, 2), positioned with their axes parallel, between which the strips (S1-S12) are guided, and the guides (F10-F15, F20-F25) for the strips (S1-S12) are implemented on the respective shafts (1, 2) and run around the circumference of the shafts (1, 2).
 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guides (F10-F25) are implemented like thread sections, each having a pitch (s10-s25), and the shafts (1, 2) are driven in opposite directions.
 5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that, starting from a first guide (F20) having the smallest pitch (s20), the pitch (s10-s25) of each following guide (F10-F25) in the axial direction (X) of the shafts (1, 2) is greater than the pitch (s10-s25) of the guide (F10-F25) closest neighboring it in the direction of the first guide (F20).
 6. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guides (F10-F25) of the separating unit (N) are implemented on isolating segments (V10-V110, V20-V210).
 7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the isolating segments (V10-V110, V20-V210) are movably guided like sliding blocks in the axial direction (X) of the separating unit (N).
 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the isolating segments (V10-V110, V20-V210) are distributed onto different guideways.
 9. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the separating unit has a first operating position, in which the strips (S1-S12) lie loosely in their guides. (F10-F25), and a second operating position, in which the strips (S1-S12) are clamped in the guides (F10-F25).
 10. The device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that free edges of the guides are phased at least in the region in which they come into contact with the strips.
 11. The device according to claim 12 [sic], characterized in that the phasing is performed in the form of a rounding or flattening.
 12. The device according to claim 4 and one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the angle of the phasing is tailored to the respective pitch (s1-s15) of the thread section in such a way that an essentially exclusively linear contact occurs between the phasing and the respective strip.
 13. A device for slitting a band, particularly a metal band, into multiple strips (S1-S12) conveyed next one another in the lengthwise direction, characterized in that a device for isolating the strips (S1-S12) according to one of claims 1 to 9 is positioned in its outlet.
 14. The device according to claim 13, characterized in that the device for isolating the strips (S1-S12) may travel from a transfer position, in which it accepts the strips to be isolated (S1-S12), into an isolating position, in which the isolation of the strips (S1-S12) occurs.
 15. A device for transporting strips, particularly metal strips, from a device in which the strips (S1-S12) are produced by slitting a band to a device in which further processing of the strips occurs, characterized in that the device for transporting the strips (S1-S12) is equipped with a device for their isolation according to one of claims 1 to
 14. 